MENGO– Labib Kalifa 24 year old , on Friday testified in Mwanga Magistrats court, narrating how got involved in this matter which has made him to sleep in prison for close to four years.
Kalifa , the fourth accused person to testify in this case, opted for unsworn evidence (can’t be cross examined by the state prosecution) as some of his colleagues that testified earlier.
He informed court that he was introduced to Pastor Robert Kayanja of Miracle Center Rubaga, by a one Joshua, whom he met at Tuskys Supermarket during his school holidays.
“I was still buying yaka at a Pay Way Machine , the same guy came behind me , he asked me to help him also because he didn’t know how to use that machine. He had a yaka meter on his phone, he gave me a 10,000 shillings note and told me he is Joshua.”
That after there, he found again Joshua leaning against his car , his left hand was holding a bag and right dangling his car keys.
He then begged him sale him atleast five minutes of his time.
“He requested me to enter in his car and when I entered the car, he pulled out his phone and he asked me have u known this before? He started playing videos of people at church, mostly youth engaging in various activities like playing football ,dance and drama and basketball among others.”
That , Joshua asked him to pick interest in any of the above and he could join them any time he could wish and there after left him with his mobile contact.
“On Saturday I called him , I met him at church, he gave me the front seat . When Josh called one day , he asked me if that if you get a chance to meet the big man ( Pastor kayanja) what would you ask him, I responded that I don’t know any scripture in the Bible , but you can help me and I share with him.”
That, Joshua responded that all those that meet him come back loaded with cash and it’s this that prompted Kalifa to ask Joshua to take him to the Pastor.
Kalifa meets the Pastor
That on a Saturday was around noon time , Kalifa was already at Church ready to meet the Pastor, Joshua told him to wait at the reception.
“The process of meeting the pastor took hours , but we met him, when we entered office, Pastor asked Josh Surprisingly in Luganda ‘Mugenyi ki gwondetedde leero” Josh responded that meet the Genius. He asked me to have a seat and Josh was asked to leave office. The Pastor asked me my names, my home, whether I was a student etc.”
That after the conversation, the pastor gave him some dollars packed in a white envelope, but as he was handing him the envelope, he asked him where he was heading after the meeting, Kalifa responded that he was going to hang around church and after he was to head home later after the return of his uncle. That the Pastor informed him that he would like to meet him more often.
Kalifa told Court the he was later taken for training, but on returnning he continued coming to church and at one time the Pastor asked a person by names of Serugo in Luganda that Kano “nkakuweemu meka” loosely translated that how much should I give in this one, and Serugo said that 3 million shillings.
“I didn’t get their conversation well untill when pastor packed some money in two envelopes, he gave it to Serugo who was putting on blue shorts and he said to to me in Luganda he said , “gwe nkusasudde Kati oli wange” …since I didn’t know what he was talking about, I said it’s okay.”
He added that after like nine days , he was called back for an overnight and it was that time that he was lured into sodomy acts.
The trial Mwanga ii Grade ii Magistrate, Adams Byarugaba adjourned to 28th August 2025 for further defence hearing.
The prosecution alleges that the group of nine people , along with others still at large, conspired in September 2021 to falsely accuse Kayanja of committing unnatural offences.
These also face other charges like; conspiracy to defeat justice, criminal trespass, and providing false information to police.
